My Bali Project

[FivePointOh]

Got a great deal on a BM 43A as a project knife. Today I took apart the knife and started working on the latch handle. It was a real chore to remove the anodizing and smooth out the handle. I used 220 wet/dry paper. I just took a test cut through the latch pin hole. Yikes, I found a void. Hope it's not too deep. That TI is tough!!! It took two Dremel cutting disks to get this much done. More later.



As you can see, after a little sanding, the bottom handle is not too flat. A lot of block sanding needed to get it smooth.



Here's the void. It was amazing watching the cutting disk get smaller and smaller as I cut.

[ZENGHOST]

Cool, Dave. What's the game plan here? Latchless with mirror polished handles?

[FivePointOh]

That's the plan for now. Maybe a couple other mods too. Time will tell.

[nybble]

Looking good! Yeah, voids seem to be the watchword when cutting up BM's. Ah well, it's not too bad, and it'll make each one unique. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

[Dawkind]

I cut my 42s up a couple of years ago. I'd never worked with ti before and it took 30 minutes with a new Lenox Bi-metal hacksaw blade in a Lenox frame to cut the ends of the #### handle off! I feel your pain..........

I had voids in mine that I couldn't get out so I use it to direct me to the safe handle. Since I took this photo years ago, I've sharpened the swedge and have used it ever day since then. You'll love the way that it'll flip when you're done.


Here's a factory made latchless 42 just to make you feel bad..... no flaws on this one.

[nybble]

Dudley! That's so cool, how'd you score that factory latchless?

[Dawkind]

Originally posted by nybble
Dudley! That's so cool, how'd you score that factory latchless?

Well, it took a couple of years but the wait was worth it! A good friend of mine scored it from Travis and as his tastes in knives changed, I ended up with it.......

It's the last one Vance made........#10/10


Here's the entire letter.........


I'm glad you like it......... I wonder how many handles got pitched before Vance could make 10 knives?!?:confused:

[FivePointOh]

Sweet factory latchless Dudley!!! Thanks for the pix.
I remember the pix of your 42s.

Yup, it's sloooow moving with this titanium.
I'm past the void and it's looking good.
Some more work on this handle to get the butt smoothed and it's on to the next.

[nybble]

Huh! That's interesting - they say in the letter that they're not going to make more due to the legalities of latchlessness. In my brain's foggy recesses, I thought I remembered, if anything, a latchless balisong was *more* legal than latchful since by some definition it couldn't be "locked" open. Did I miss something along the way?

5.0 looking good! Do you have to sort of shave the end off a thin slice at a time?

[FivePointOh]

Originally posted by nybble
5.0 looking good! Do you have to sort of shave the end off a thin slice at a time?

Thanks! No, I just made the first cut to test the waters so to say. The second cut was right at the bottom of the latch slot. Just needs to be grinded/sanded to make it flush. The other handle is going to be tougher because the slot isn't as deep as the latch handle. I will have to cut through solid TI instead of just two smaller sections to make it match the length of the latch handle.

[ghen]

Originally posted by nybble
I thought I remembered, if anything, a latchless balisong was *more* legal than latchful since by some definition it couldn't be "locked" open. Did I miss something along the way?

Some States & municipalities have laws against knives that do not require a safety device to be disengaged before it is opened. Also, there is probably a liability concern about latchless balis not being able to be secured in the open OR closed postion by mechanical means.

PEACE

GHEN

[Darrel Ralph]

Great Score!

[FivePointOh]

PROJECT 43 has been updated. Check out the latest mods and pix.

>>> PROJECT 43 <<<

[ExamonLyf]

Yeah I love that factory Latchless Dudley .., well.., actually I like any latchless...lol.

Dave.., I also did that Ti-Chop-Shop job with a hack saw ..., and I beat Dudley's time cutting by 31 seconds! 8o

I used neighborhood kids in rotation, and now they don't talk to me anymore...

Is seriousness...nice looking "Franken-Bali" you'll have there. Unfortunately.., it's hard to luck out and not have any voids. One of mine was void-free.., but the other one had craters in both handles..

Let us have a look when you are done if you have time for pictures...